Top 3 health: Tips for when you have 50 pounds to lose

The steeper the mountain, the more difficult the first step. And if you're carrying a lot of extra weight, taking that first step toward a healthier lifestyle can be especially daunting.

Here are tips, courtesy of Prevention magazine, published by Rodale Inc. of Emmaus, to get started for those looking to lose 50 pounds or more.

Hide your bathroom scale

1 Getting the weight off — and keeping it off — is a slow process, says trainer Louise Green. Watching the number on a scale can be depressing. Plus, if you're focused on losing a set number of pounds in a specific amount of time, missing that goal can wreck your motivation. Green says losing weight should be a secondary benefit to your overall health gains, not your primary goal.

Focus on your health

2 Train your attention on how you feel, advises Michelle Steinke, founder of One Fit Widow. Steinke rededicated herself to health and lost 80 pounds after the tragic death of her husband. When you're physically active, you have more energy and you feel better about yourself, she says. "Enjoy the sensations of being active and strong," Green says. Instead of feeling like you're suffering through some kind of weight-loss boot camp, you'll actually relish the time you spend exercising.

DRINK MORE WATER

3 If you set the bar too high, you're setting yourself up for failure, says Dyan Tsiumis, founder of Get Fierce Training in New York. Tsiumis, who once weighed 190 pounds, dropped more than 70 lbs. from her petite frame. "I often have my clients start by drinking 2 liters of water every day for a month," she says. "They're amazed at how good they feel." By starting with modest goals, you can avoid the pitfalls of burnout or the debilitating repercussions of missing your targets.